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emuyshondt

Well Known Member
I got an ad for the Bose QuietComfort 20i ANR in-ear headset . I have a pair of the non-ANR headphones and like them a lot. When i travel in an airline, I use them instead of the over-the-ear ANR headset that I also have.

This new headset has a built-in microphone to use with iPhones and other smartphones. Would anybody know if such a microphone can drive the mic input of aviation radios? It would not be that hard to make an adapter to plug the headset into the airplane's radio system (I happen to have an Icom A200) and this would make a nice headset for the plane, if the mocrophone could work.

I tried to find the microphone specs, but didn't find anything on the Bose web site. Perhaps someone can comment on the specs of smartphone microphones.
 
I can tell you that the attenuation of these earbuds is nothing like the foam buds of a Halo or Clarity. I have a pair and seldom use them. They are so bad, they are annoying to use on an airline flight (in the back;) ) - just allow too much ambient noise. Can't imagine using them in an RV cockpit.
 
Are you talking about their new ANR headset (just came out) or their older MIE2i headsets?

I had one of the older ones, and then received the SIE2i as a gift. I found the Sport version had significantly better sound. I haven't tried them in my 172, since the noise attenuation is not the great. I do like them in an airliner, but I usually don't seat near the engines. I find that once I'm listening to music or a video, the engine noise is drowned out.

Thinking more about it, the microphone is probably too far away from the lips to be effective in a noisy environment. It probably won't work in a Cessna cockpit.
 
Anyone try them yet?

Has anyone tried a pair of the 20i's in an RV? Seems like if the ANR was monster, one could make a very nice headset from them by adding a boom mic of appropriate noise cancellation caliber.
 
In my airline job, lots of people used the UFlyMic with a QC-20 headset. I wasn't a fan. Biggest reason, the mic noise. With the hot mic on it constantly hissed.

I would stay away from a headset like this in the GA world. Even in a jet aircraft (in my case, the ERJ-170) the noise was high enough to justify wearing David Clarks. Also, as mentioned, the passive noise would be high.

When I was instructing I had a student who was an Ear, Nose and throat specialist. He told me on more than one occasion that when I was working line service I should wear plugs and headphones. He was of the opinion that even with the ear canal blocked there was a huge amount of ambient noise coming in through your skull and at least the headphones blocked some of this (passive reduction). In addition ANR provided a false sense of security because while you think it's quieter, it's really not. Great for fatigue, not so much for hearing protection.
 
pilotpip said:
In my airline job, lots of people used the UFlyMic with a QC-20 headset. I wasn't a fan. Biggest reason, the mic noise. With the hot mic on it constantly hissed.

I would stay away from a headset like this in the GA world. Even in a jet aircraft (in my case, the ERJ-170) the noise was high enough to justify wearing David Clarks. Also, as mentioned, the passive noise would be high.

When I was instructing I had a student who was an Ear, Nose and throat specialist. He told me on more than one occasion that when I was working line service I should wear plugs and headphones. He was of the opinion that even with the ear canal blocked there was a huge amount of ambient noise coming in through your skull and at least the headphones blocked some of this (passive reduction). In addition ANR provided a false sense of security because while you think it's quieter, it's really not. Great for fatigue, not so much for hearing protection.
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I imagine your coworkers were using the UFlyMike with the Bose QC-2 or QC-15 headsets. Those headsets are "over the ear" headsets that do provide some passive protection (but not much) as well as the ANR. I used one for years in jet aircraft and use it today in my RV and am quite happy with it. I do know that the unit now comes with a small jewelers screwdriver to adjust the mic gain for the problem you mention. I have had other headsets that have mic gain issues, as well.
I have read that some specialists agree with your MD student and now feel that ANR does not really provide hearing protection. Back when I was flying helicopters for Uncle Sam, we had very good helmets with a lot of passive noise reduction, but some flight surgeons suggested that we wear the soft foam earplugs in addition.
I can tell you that I have enough hearing loss that the VA recently saw fit to give me hearing aids. Too many years of flying helicopters, noisy airplanes, being on ramps with helicopter and jet noise, and not always wearing hearing protection. (perhaps some loud rock n roll guitar thrown in ^_^)
Once it's gone, guys and gals, it's gone!
 
Indeed. I'm starting to notice the hearing isn't what it used to be. 20ish years around airplanes will do that to you.
 
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